Lib Dem Winchester parliamentary candidate Danny Chambers visits St Swithun's School

Last Wednesday St Swithun's School welcomed Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Winchester, Danny Chambers, for an insightful visit aimed at fostering student engagement in politics. During the visit, Mr Chambers had the opportunity to meet with Head Jane Gandee, Director of Outreach and Partnerships Simon Mayes, and Director of Development and Alumnae Kate Lewis, engaging in conversations about the school's commitment to academic excellence, community involvement and the vital work the Bramston Bursary Foundation does in providing life-changing bursaries.

These meetings were followed by an engaging lunch with some of St Swithun's students. This provided an opportunity for Mr Chambers to engage in meaningful discussions with the students, emphasising the significance of active citizenship and leadership in the community.

Subsequently, Mr Chambers had an engaging session with the Prep Parliament students at the Prep School, where he shared insights into the role of politics and the importance of civic participation in society. The interaction aimed to inspire the pupils to actively participate in shaping their communities and to understand the essence of public service.

Commenting on the visit, Head of Senior School Jane Gandee remarked, "We were thrilled to host Mr. Chambers at St Swithun's School. We are grateful for his valuable insights and the time he spent interacting with our students."

Mr. Chambers expressed his enthusiasm, stating: "I spent part of my career teaching at a University, so I've held a long interest in both education and in ensuring young people can reach their potential. We had a very insightful discussion regarding the excellent community engagement work St Swithun's does and discussed how the impact of this work could be extended yet further.

“I was really impressed by the young women I met — they were very politically engaged and cared deeply about climate change. We agreed that politicians need to take climate change seriously. We also talked about the importance of supporting the mental health of young people facing tough challenges right now."